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GOOD ORGANIC CONTROLS
BY GEORGE EDGAR
Most “organic” products
are effective and may be more beneficial to the environment. For
example, insecticidal soap purchased from a garden center is effective
for scale, spider mites, and many other insects, and is safe to use on
most plants, including houseplants, and does not contain a rinsing
agent. Some people make their own from dishwashing liquid. However,
dishwashing liquid has a rinsing agent which is desired in rinsing
dishes but makes for a very short residual when used on plants and the
chemicals may be toxic to some plants. The insecticidal soap purchased
from the store is formulated and tested for use as a horticultural
insecticide. Be sure to use as directed on the label and only on the
plants listed. It has been tested on those plants and found not to be
harmful at that rate. I used it last year on all my houseplants before I
brought them in for the winter. I also used it to control mites on my
dwarf Spruce tree. The main downside of most organic pesticides is the
length of the residual and thus may have to be applied more often. Neem
oil is approved for organic gardens as a combination insecticide and
fungicide. Some brands of insecticidal soap are made from Neem oil so
you get the benefit from both.
Horticultural
sulfur is an effective fungicide. It and copper were about the only
fungicides available for many years to our parents and grandparents. The
only caution is to be careful using these fungicides in the heat of the
summer as they burn the leaves. Lime-sulfur is still the treatment of
choice as a preventative for peach leaf curl. It can also be used as a
dormant spray on other plants to control a number of diseases. In early
spring I spray my Peach trees, Pie Cherry tree, Plum trees, and
Raspberry canes with lime-sulfur. I also use granular horticultural
sulfur around my Azalea, Rhododendron, Blue
Hydrangea, and River Birch every year to lower the pH. These plants
like a more acidic soil than we usually find in eastern and central
Corn gluten is
an effective organic crabgrass pre-emergent and post-emergent herbicide
(weed killer). Use the granular corn gluten as you would any
pre-emergent. A liquid spray of corn gluten is also available as a spot
weeder. Support our farmers with this natural product that comes as a
by-product from processing corn. Many full service garden centers now
carry this product and it is organic and natural. The downside is the
cost and the length of residual. It is more expensive than non-organic
pre-emergent herbicides and has a shorter residual than most so you will
need at least two applications in the spring, about six weeks apart. A
third application applied in early August will prevent germination of
Henbit and Ground Ivy seeds.
Mulch (wood
chips, dry grass clippings, straw, and/or compost) placed around your
plants and trees is an organic way to control weeds. Mulch, 2 inches to
3 inches deep, can help in weed control as most weed seeds need sunlight
to germinate. Do not pile mulch more than 3 inches deep. Mulch also
helps keep rain from splashing up on the lower leaves of plants from the
soil, thus preventing the inoculation of plants with soil borne
diseases. This is especially effective for controlling black spot on
Roses and blight on Tomatoes.
Clematis
sometimes gets yellow leaves which looks like iron chlorosis. It may be
magnesium chlorosis, or a deficiency of magnesium. A book that
Very soon the
Grasshoppers will be starting to hatch. NoLo Bait is a grasshopper
suppression bait made from flaky wheat bran which is sprayed with a
suspension of distilled water, a sticking agent (Methylcellulose), and
Nosema locustae spores. It is non-toxic to humans, livestock, wild
animals, birds, fish, or life forms other than grasshoppers and species
of insects closely related to grasshoppers. It is very important to
understand that NoLo Bait or "Nosema locustae" does not work rapidly.
Because grasshoppers are extremely migratory and can move over great
distances it is optimal to inoculate your area frequently throughout the
season. This will help to spread the infection further and aid in long
term control. Nosema may not work as quickly as chemical pesticides, but
used correctly, it will have a noticeable impact on populations in the
long term. You may observe more obvious results the season after
application has taken place than during the season in which you
inoculated. This is due to an overall decrease in egg laying capability,
and infection of the new spring hatch.
There are many
more good organic controls for weeds, insects, and diseases. Prevention
is the best control. For more information contact your local Copyright 2012 |